Vehicle cargo bed systems including a stair assembly, a load stop, or both

Abstract

A cargo bed system includes a stair assembly that is movable between a stowed position and a staircase position relative to a vehicle structure. The stair assembly includes first and second support arm assemblies and first and a second steps. The first and second steps are configured to pivot together.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cargo bed system, comprising:
 a stair assembly movable between a stowed position and a staircase position relative to a vehicle structure;   first and second support arm assemblies of the stair assembly, the first and second support arm assemblies each including a fixed rail and a linkage assembly, the linkage assembly having inner bars slidably engaged with outer bars; and   first and second steps of the stair assembly, the first and second steps pivotably coupled together by the linkage assembly such that the first and second steps are configured to pivot together.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, when moved from the stowed position to the staircase position, the stair assembly is configured to translate horizontally from the stowed position to an extended position where the stair assembly is extended relative to the vehicle structure, and then pivot relative to the vehicle structure from the extended position to the staircase position, the outer bars extended relative to the inner bars when the stair assembly is in the extended position and when the stair assembly is in the staircase position. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first step and the second steps pivot together relative to the first and second support arm assemblies when the stair assembly pivots relative to the vehicle structure from the extended position to the staircase position. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second steps are pivotably coupled together by the outer bars of the linkage assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer bars of the linkage assemblies establish a four-bar linkage that pivotably couples together the first and second steps. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the linkage assemblies telescope relative to respective fixed rails of the support arm assemblies when the stair assembly is transitioned from the stowed position to an extended position, wherein the outer bars telescope relative to the respective inner bars when the stair assembly is transitioned from the stowed position to the extended position, wherein the linkage assemblies pivots relative to the respective fixed rails when the stair assembly is pivoted from the extended position to the staircase position. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle structure is a tailgate of a vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the stair assembly extends rearward relative to an orientation of the vehicle when moving from the stowed position within the tailgate. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the stair assembly moves laterally outward relative to an orientation of the vehicle when moving from the stowed position within the tailgate. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second steps each include a stepping surface, the first and second steps pivoting to keep the respective stepping surfaces facing vertically upward when the stair assembly is transitioned between the stowed position and the stepping position. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first step is spaced vertically from the second step when the stepping assembly is in the staircase position. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one lift assist that damps movement of the stair assembly from an extended position to the staircase position, assists movement of the stair assembly from the staircase position to an extended position, or both. 
     
     
         13 . A method of transitioning a stair assembly of a vehicle, comprising:
 extending a stair assembly from a stowed position within a vehicle structure to an extended position relative to the vehicle structure;   during the extending, sliding linkage assemblies relative to respective fixed rails, and sliding inner bars of the linkage assemblies relative to respective outer bars of the linkage assemblies;   lowering the stair assembly from the extended position to a staircase position by pivoting the linkage assemblies relative to the vehicle structure; and   during the lowering, rotating the linkage assemblies relative to at least one step of the stair assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one step includes an upper step and a lower step. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the upper step and the lower step are rotatably coupled together by the linkage assemblies. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the vehicle structure is a vehicle tailgate. 
     
     
         17 . A cargo bed system, comprising:
 a stair assembly movable between a stowed position and a staircase position relative to a vehicle structure;   a pair of support arm assemblies of the stair assembly, the support arm assemblies each including a fixed rail, a first bar, and a second bar, the first bar and the second bar configured to be slidably received within the fixed rail when the stair assembly is in the stowed position, the first bar telescopically extended relative to the second bar when the stair assembly is in the staircase position; and   first and a second steps of the stair assembly the first and second steps supported by the pair of support arm assemblies.   
     
     
         18 . The cargo bed system of  claim 17 , wherein the first bars of the pair of support arm assemblies pivotably coupled together the first and second steps such that the first and second steps are configured to pivot together. 
     
     
         19 . The cargo bed system of  claim 17 , wherein the first bars of the pair of support arm assemblies are outer bars, wherein the second bars of the pair of support arm assemblies are inner bars. 
     
     
         20 . The cargo bed system of  claim 17 , wherein the vehicle structure is a tailgate, wherein the stair assembly extends rearward relative to an orientation of the vehicle when moving from the stowed position within the tailgate.